...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By Alvin Benjamin Carter III, MMA Torch Specialist
The UFC merging with the WEC is just good business. Generally, a lot of people lose out when mergers happen, but in this particular case a lot of people (fighters) win. The fans also win, and they win big.
The debate over having one major MMA promotion has been going on for quite some time. While that has not happened in the same way that there is one National Basketball Association, it looks like there is truly one elite level fight promotion with a strong number of weight divisions-- the Ultimate Fighting Championships. Everyone in the industry or who watches the sport already knows that the UFC is the number one promotion in mixed martial arts, but the organization has never been such a complete entity as it will be when this merger takes effect.
I was talking to my colleague Jamie Penick, Editor-in-Chief of MMATorch, earlier today, and we had a speculative conversation about what this could all mean for the UFC’s lightweight division, Strikeforce, and Bellator. Personally, I think the marquee match-ups at the top of the UFC's lightweight division have been less interesting as of late. It will be great to get an injection of new talent that might give fans what they really want to see- new fights. And, who is not happy about the fact that Ben Henderson, Jamie Varner, and Donald Cerrone will get the chance to fight other people.
There is the possibility that some of the lighter weight fighters will be able to switch weight classes in a relatively easier fashion for superfights. Also, exciting and impressive fighters like “The Mongolian Wolf” Tie Quan Zhang will be given great exposure that might help the UFC endear itself further in other markets like China; where UFC has already started to setup shop. There are a number of fighters that can be marketed to different demographics and regions in an effective way that will benefit the promotion and the fighters.
Now, the shakeup comes with Bellator and Strikeforce. During the conversation we mentioned our colleague Jason Amadi’s piece about how this is the “worst case scenario for non-Zuffa promotions.” (Click Here for Article.) Amadi talks about how a number of other promotions are on notice seeing now that the UFC can persuade lighter weight fighters to join their organization. The UFC’s power possibly extends past that as they might be in a position to eventually purchase Bellator and take who they want from the roster. Why waste time negotiating with a few when you can get them all, erase the competition, and sort out who you keep later? Specifically, we tossed around the concept of the UFC buying Bellator and taking Eddie Alvarez, Ben Askren, Hector Lombard, and Joe Warren.
Just the fact that we could have that conversation is exciting and is indicative of the unprecedented state of of professional mixed martial arts in the United States and around the world. I know it can be said that the UFC has done this before, and look what a push the Pride acquisition gave the sport. Still it did not break the industry as wide open as this WEC/UFC merger. This is not just adding to what is already there, this is adding divisions and opportunity for further growth. I am talking bigger than pay-per-view buys here, this can alter and possibly define the industry by providing a battery of exciting cards all across the world with multiple revenue streams.
There will be some interesting match-ups that can now take place, and bouts that were once called super fights might just be the co-main event on a UFC numbered event or on Versus. This poses a large problem for Strikeforce. Being the number two promotion is difficult, but it could be a lot easier if you carve your niche. Hypothetically speaking, let’s say that the UFC buys Bellator. That gets rid of one of Strikeforce’s competitors (If not only competitor besides the UFC). A smart move would be to acquiesce to the UFC being the dominant leading promotion, and simply find a new way to fit as the promotion for those who are not in the UFC.
Yes, second string is what it sounds like, but is it really? The UFC just cut Gabriel Gonzaga, Patrick Cote, and Tito Ortiz is probably next. These fighters have been enjoyable for a number of people to watch, but they just have not been winning. Strikeforce would be smart to be the place where these fighters can find a home. Doing this would give Strikeforce more leverage with fighters because there would not be a lot of places for them to go and still be on TV in front of fans. Maybe Strikeforce can avoid another Fedor/M-1 scenario if they use this type of leverage to get the fighters to fight more frequently.
Nothing is wrong with being the home for almost elite level fighters, especially if they were considered elite a week ago. The UFC is booming and their turnover rate seems to be increasing. There will be a steady stream of talent being let go as the years go on, and someone should be there to catch them. I have to reference a company that accepted their place at number three in their market and that is Snapple. They realized they were not going to beat Coke and Pepsi so they embraced that and actually incorporated it into their marketing campaign.
I do not think Strikeforce should advertise this strategy to the same degree Snapple did, but their actions and market repositioning could speak volumes and make way for a more stable promotion.
This would normally be part of my line of articles that list the the steps of the UFC’s global expansion plan, and it should be, but, this is a bit bigger than just expanding the UFC. This is unifying the sports weight classes in elite fashion. I am a fan of what Bellator is doing, and I would be lying if I said that I did not enjoy some of the fights Strikeforce has put on as of late. But, the UFC is the most complete league in elite level mixed martial arts and it might only be a matter of time before competitors fold or find a unique way to co-exist. Still, either way fans have a lot to be excited about.
DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
The UFC’s initial plan to run in Brazil on March 5 for UFC 197 may instead make way for a massive event in Las Vegas, as Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter reports that the organization is [...]
“That fight in particular, I went back [after the third round], I assumed I won the fight. So to see a split, that was a little shocking for me… He’s so talented that it’s tough [...]
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
